Uconn

UConn's Tuck has less hype, but plenty of talent By Roger Cleaveland Republican-American

File-This March 28, 2012 file photo shows McDonald's West All-American Morgan Tuck (44) driving the ball past her future UConn teammate Breanna Stewart (30) during the first half of the McDonald's All-American Women's basketball game in Chicago. Now UConn freshmen Stewart, Tucker, and Moriah Jefferson have become good friends. In fact, Stewart and Jefferson like to hit Tuck with pillows, and all three have a laugh. On court, the three are expected to pummel opponents for the next four years. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

STORRS — So much has been made of freshman sensation Breanna Stewart that it is understandable UConn fans are anxious to finally see her play in the Huskies' first exhibition game tonight.

Last year's consensus National High School Player of the Year is expected to provide a huge post presence for UConn because she's 6-foot-4 with a 71-inch wing span.

But as the Huskies head into tonight's game against Indiana (Pa.) University, Stewart may be the second-best freshman post player on the team so far — not because she has played poorly, but because Morgan Tuck has had an impressive preseason.

The 6-foot-2 forward out Boilingbrook, Ill., exuded confidence from the time she stepped onto campus and has played with such consistency and versatility that after Thursday's practice Coach Geno Auriemma called her a big Kelly Faris.

"I don't know what she is great at yet, but I don't think she is bad at anything," Auriemma said. "What can't Morgan Tuck do? Nothing. There isn't any position where you could put her on the floor and then say, 'I don't think she belongs there.' Wherever she happens to be on the floor, she belongs there. That is a hell of a thing for a freshman."

A lot of freshmen get overwhelmed trying to make the transition from high school to college, but Tuck said she has

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felt at ease thanks to the encouragement of her teammates.

"I feel pretty comfortable, but I am definitely nervous for (tonight)," Tuck said. "It is more just butterflies. I am thinking about it being my first college game, and I have been waiting for this for so long. Even though it is only an exhibition, I am treating it like it is a regular season game. I am ready to get out there and see the crowd and finally be on the court and not part of the crowd."

Tuck should open some eyes because of her athleticism. She began her basketball career as a guard and even as late as last year as a high school senior played some point guard at the end of games just to keep her ballhandling skills sharp and make her think about the game from different perspectives.

While she could be the perfect power forward for this team, she has the skills to also play the wing. This past summer at the FIBA Americas U18 Championships in Puerto Rico, Tuck led Team USA to the gold medal.

While Stewart was the MVP of the same tournament, Tuck led the tournament in scoring (17.8 points per game) and field-goal percentage (54.2).

She has the talent to make a big impact on the Huskies this season, and she is anxious to show people that tonight.

"I am excited to show the world what I can do," Tuck said. "I played a national schedule in high school, but this is totally different. Everyone loves watching UConn basketball. Everyone is there at the games. And I'm excited to get out there."

The high school All-American averaged 27.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.4 assists per game as a senior. She finished her career with 2,342 points and 948 rebounds while leading her team 110-9 record and three Illinois state championships.

A lot of players with such credentials might feel slighted to be overshadowed by Stewart, but Tuck looks forward to playing alongside her the next four years. They've known each other since U16 national tryouts for USA Basketball and have developed a strong friendship, especially over the past year.

They are talented enough to someday establish themselves as the best frontcourt in UConn history, and their games are different enough to complement each other.

"I am more of a power player in the post, but I can be finesse," Tuck said. "Where I am more high energy is on defense, if we are up on the press trapping and stuff like that. In the post, if you compare me to Breanna, she is more of a finesse player, and I am more of a power player."

They are also different in the way they get things done, but both can be equally important to the Huskies' success this year and in years to come.

Auriemma loves the big-game potential of Stewart, but is equally a fan of Tuck's solid consistency.

"If you say, OK, who is going to be solid for seven days? (Tuck) is going to be really solid for seven days," Auriemma said. "Now if you just need somebody for 40 minutes tonight to win the national championship then you say, 'Well, I think I have to throw Breanna Stewart in there.'

"It's like (having) the guy who hits .330 and the other guy (who) strikes out three times and hits a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth. That is kind of where they are right now."

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